Compass-gyroscope.



Patent-ed Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

' we we a 1 vwa ntoz E. KLAHN. COMPASS GYROSCOPE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.7,19I2- RENEWED OCT. 22. I917.

0Q m z/ 1% ,T W, l why n mz DU a M h J m f t M rr 'rs Anna eer e,

'EMIL KLAHN, OF NEW VERNON, NEW JERSEY.

GOMPASS-GYROSCOPE.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 7,1912, Serial No. 735,369. Renewed October22, 1917. Serial No. 198,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL KLAHN, citizen of the United States, and aresident of New Vernon, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new 7 and useful Improvements inCompass-Gyroscopes, of which the following is a specificais unaffectedby gravity, and in utilizing the potential function of such gyroscope toregulate the position of the controlled member when a disturbing forceis acting on the gyroscope.

In the embodiment herein illustrated and described as one application ofthe invention, viz :a non-magnetic compasssuch disturbing or directiveforce results from the rotation of the earth and for movements andchanges in the course of the vessel carrying the compass, an apparentrotation of the compass card or controlled member taking place andserving as a measure of the change in course.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly insection, of a non-magnetic compass embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a suitable base for theapparatus, which base may be carried by a ship or other course changingbody. Suitable columns 11 extend upwardly. from the base and support agimbal ring 12, which, in turn, is pivotally connected to the frame 13of the apparatus proper, the mounting of frame 13 in the gimbal ringbeing according to the usual practice and intended to maintain the saidframe 13 at all times in the plumb line.

The frame 13 retains a frame 14 rotatably mounted therein as by means ofupper and lower shafts 15 and 16 forming an axle hereinafter referred toas the vertical axle of the gyroscope and rigidly connected with theframe 14:, said shafts being held in corresponding bearings 17 and'18respectively of the frame 13. Within the frame 14 is pivotally mountedas by trunnions 181, forming a horizontal axle of the gyroscope, inbearings 19, and at right angles to the said vertical axle, thegyroscopic member proper. This member comprises a motor 20 rotating anaxle 21, at right angles to the said trunnions'and the vertical axle,the axle 21 being hereinafter referred to as the axle of rotation of therotating mass and driving two rotatable masses 122 at its respectiveends. The masses 22 are shown inclosed in suitable casings 23 to avoidany disturbing action due to air currents produced bytheir rotation. Theresistance to any torque which may act upon the vertical axle of thegyroscope is so adjusted as to be considerably greater than that offeredby the trunnions 181, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth. Toadjust the frictional resistance of the vertical axle, a tension band 21 is arranged about a portion of the shaft 15, one end of the said bandbeing attached to a crossbar 25 at the top of the frame 13 and the otherend being provided with an adjusting screw 26.

Extending from one end of the gyroscopic member are rods 27, onedownwardly and the other upwardly, and each being substantially incontact with respective spring members 28 secured to the frame 1 1.These spring members are adapted to exert upon the said pivotallymounted gyroscopic member (axle 21) a slight upward and downward forcerespectively, insufficient to effect a rotation of the vertical axle ofthe gyroscope, but great enough to turn said axle 21.

The shaft 15 carries at its upper end the controlled member, which isherein shown,

for the purpose of a non-magnetic compass,

as a suitably graduated compass card dial 29. Sight openings 30 areprovided in the cross bar 25 and are fitted with two parallel,vertically disposed threads 31 to afford a more convenient and accuratereading of the graduations of said dial.

When a disturbing (external) force tending to alter the position of thecontrolled or Patented DQ353311, 1918.

indicating member is introduced, such as is caused by the rotation ofthe earth or as in a turning or change in course, of the ship, a torqueis applied to the vertical axle. The friction offered by this axleshould be great enough to cause movement of the same with its frame 13(when the gyroscope masses are not rotating) under action of a torque ofsuch magnitude as would actually be present during operation, and shouldbe greater than that in the trunnions 181. A torque acting upon thevertical axle is thus immediately and practically as a whole defiectedor changed into one acting at an It? angle of 90 thereto, effecting arotation of the axle 21 on the trunnions 181. Such a torque has,therefore, no further disturbing action on the controlled member and thegyroscope is returned to its original inclination by means of the springmembers 28, this latter movement having no appreciable efl'ect on thevertical axle owing to the comparatively great frictional resistance ofthat axle.

As rotary influences are actually transmitted to an axle when the latteroffers substantial friction, it is clear that in the present instrumentsuch rotary influences will be transmitted through the vertical axlewhile having very little effect on the horizontal trunnions. Thegyroscope, may be considered as having one of its degrees of freedom ofrotation, namely, about a vertical axis somewhat restricted therebydiminishing its stability to a certain degree. The eflect of the earthsrotation, therefore, will be to make the gyroscope, or rather the axle21, seek its position of equilibrium along the vertical throughoscillations on either side of it while remaining practically in a fixedvertical plane, very slight socalled mutational oscillations about thisplane being neglected. Owing to the addition of the spring members 28,and to the practically complete freedom of rotation on the trunnions181, the position of equilibrium of the axle 21 can be made inclined tothe vertical. Preferably, it would be made horizontal. Moreover,disturbances due to the turning of the ship carrying such an instrumentor to the movement of the ship from one place to another on the surfaceof the globe, will have no appreciable effect on the indications of theinstrument. The turning of a ship is equivalent to anincrease ordecrease of the vertical'component of the earths angular velocity and,there- "fore, is taken care of as above explained,

The maximum limit of the torque which may be transmitted through thevertical axle and become gyroscopically effective is predetermined andall other possible disturbing forces are rendered practicallyineffective, as hereinbefore' set forth.

1. A gyroscope having frictional means to partly suppress freedom ofrotation about its vertical axis, and means to neutralize precessionabout another axis.

' 2. A gyroscope having frictional means to partly suppress freedom ofrotation about its vertical axis, and resilient means to neutralizeprecession about another axis.

3. A gyroscope having means to partly suppress freedom of rotationabout-its vertical axis, and means to return, after precession, thegyroscope to its normal position.

4. A gyroscope having means to partly suppress freedom of rotation aboutits ver tical axis, a frame within which said gyroscope is pivotallymounted, and resilient means in connection with said frame adapted toact upon said gyroscope, and a controlled member in connection with saidframe.

5. A gyroscope having adjustable frictional means to partly suppressfreedom of rotation about one of its axes, and means to neutralizeprecession about another axis.

6. The combination with a suitably mounted frame, and a substantiallycounterbalanced gyroscopic member pivotally mounted therein and havingmeans to partly suppress freedom of rotation about its vertical axis; ofmeans to normally maintain the said member in predetermined angularrelationto said frame.

7. The combination with a suitably mounted frame and a .substantiallycounterbalanced gyroscopic member pivotally mounted therein; of upperand lower spring members secured to said frame and extending therefrom,and rods extending from said gyroscopicmember adapted to engage therespective spring members.

8. The combination with a suitableframe,

a gimbal support therefor, a second frame rotatably supported by saidfirst frame, a substantially counterbalanced gyroscopic member pivotallymounted in said second frame, a resilient band secured to said first-.named frame and extending about the axle of precession, and means tovary the pressure exerted by said band upon said axle of precession; ofupper and lower spring members secured to said second frame andextending therefrom, and rods extending from said gyroscopic member andadapted to engage the respective spring members; and a compass card inconnection with said second frame.

9. The combination with a suitably mounted gyroscope and means to partlysuppress freedom of rotation about its vertical axis, of resilient meansacting on said gyroscope to cause the same to turn about an axisperpendicular to the axis of rotation of said mass, the force exertedthereby being insufficient to effect turning of said gyroscope about thevertical axis due to precess1on.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York,this 6th day of December, A. D. 1912.

EMIL KLAHN.

Witnesses:

' WILIAM H. COOK,

DOUGLAS P. CooN.

